To the Editor
Recently I had the opportunity to tour the NICI facility at Cottonwood,
and while it is understandable how unnerving it can be to citizens when
the unusual happens and an inmate decides to" go over the fence" I was
appreciative and impressed by the efforts that are being taken at the facility
to correct these problems. I won't go into detail about the new deterrents
being installed suffice to say the facility will now become considerably
more secure than it has been in the past. I commend warden Lynn Guyer
and His Staff for taking these necessary steps to help insure the
safety and peace of mind of Our citizens.
Jay HinterlongCottonwood

Dear Editor:
Under the proposed congressional health care reform bills, virtually
every person will be required to have health care that “meets minimum benefits
standards for ‘essential services’ established by the administration”.
History has shown that those minimum benefits will include elective
abortion as an “essential service” unless Congress acts to explicitly exclude
abortion from any government mandated coverage or taxpayer funded health
plan.
Yes, history has shown that if elective abortion is not explicitly
excluded this silence will be interpreted as authorization to mandate coverage
for abortion services as an “essential service” and taxpayers will be forced
to pay for abortion on demand. That is why Congress
found it necessary to pass the annual Hyde Amendment which has severely
limited abortion funding ever since 1976.
If you are still dubious about whether the broad terms in the bill
will include abortion, consider what strong abortion advocates are saying.
President Obama has said, “…reproductive care is essential care, basic
care so it is at the center, the heart of the plan that I propose…insurers
are going to have to abide by the same rules in terms of providing comprehensive
care, including reproductive care…that’s going to be absolutely vital.”
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said recently, “Reproductive health
includes access to abortion…We are now an Administration that will protect
the right of women, including their right to reproductive health care.”
Please contact your US Congressman and Senators immediately asking
them oppose the current health care reform legislation which if passed
would result in the greatest expansion of abortion rights since 1973.
Kerry UhlenkottGrangeville